Among the ideas floated by those on the Mayor's Council for Translink to raise transit funds is region-wide road pricing. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts says the idea works elsewhere, but it would have to be fair and equitable. When asked for examples using road pricing to see what it might cost someone to drive from Surrey to Vancouver, Watts says, "as … [Read more...]
Mayors give province a deadline for Translink funding solutions
October 18, 2012 by
The Mayors Council for Translink has voted to pass the "hot potato" issue of transit funding back to the provincial government. A motion tabled by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson passed, setting a hard deadline of February 28th for the province to help solve transit funding woes. Robertson says it also rules out any new property taxes to fund … [Read more...]
BCTF to release brief arguing for more education funding
October 1, 2012 by
The BC Teachers Federation says this province lags behind many others in Canada when it comes to funding, and the teachers plan to reveal a brief Monday. BCTF President Susan Lambert is set to make a case to bring BC's level of education funding up to the national average. According to a press release issued by the BCTF on Sunday, as a percentage … [Read more...]
More funding for ‘Hollywood North’
July 9, 2012 by
The BC government has found more than two-million dollars worth of funding to subsidize this province's film industry.Most of the money is aimed at promoting the province to international film and television producers who may have forgotten Vancouver's 30-year reputation as 'Hollywood North.'BC already provides generous tax breaks, but there's … [Read more...]
Province comes through with shelter funding
July 6, 2012 by
The provincial government is providing some extra cash to extend the life of the First United Homeless Shelter in Vancouver. Existing funding was set to expire at the end of this month, but the government says it'll provide up to one million dollars to keep the shelter open for one more year. The government says 240 people have been housed through … [Read more...]
Funding cut for kids’ Science World program
June 28, 2012 by
The chair of Science World's board of directors calls it unexpected. The provincial government has cut funding for a program that brings science to kids. Andrew Harries says the program takes Science World on the road, reaching kids all over B.C. who otherwise would never get a chance to visit the Vancouver attraction. He says it’s important … [Read more...]
Canada’s Mayors want sustainable funding for infrastructure
May 31, 2012 by
The leaders of the country's major cities have met in Saskatoon to talk about ways to do this. As well as press Ottawa to keep the cash flowing so cities can stay competitive. Surrey's Dianne Watts says mayors need to co-ordinate on ways to keep up investment in roads, water and transit, "Whether it's trade, whether it's the change in regulation … [Read more...]
Bond wants to save funding for rescue teams
April 21, 2012 by
B.C.'s justice minister hopes the federal government will have a change of heart about funding cuts to emergency disaster crews. Shirley Bond says the axe is not slated to drop until March of next year. "We have conveyed through my senior staff in Emergency Management BC our concerns. We have contacted the City of Vancouver immediately upon being … [Read more...]
Where to get funding for Legal AId
March 14, 2012 by
Nothing's set in stone, but lawyers across BC are meeting Wednesday to discuss the next move to make the BC Government boost funding for legal aid. They've been withdrawing services since January. Bentley Doyle with the Trial Lawyers Association of BC says the impact has been felt across the Province, "It was quite good to see people … [Read more...]
Funding battle hindered Missing Women response
February 21, 2012 by
The Missing Women inquiry has now heard a former Vancouver Police Chief talk about clashes he had with City Hall, over money needed to track a serial killer in the Downtown Eastside. "They wouldn't fund us outside of our regular yearly budget." The words of Terry Blythe, who says former city manager Judy Rogers and former Mayor … [Read more...]
